In the Closed Room

This is a short story about a shy, quiet little girl living in a big city. When her parents are offered the opportunity to take care of a house in the suburbs for the summer she meets another little girl in the house and they become playmates. (Introduction by Linda Andrus)

First Page:

The playing today was even a lovelier, happier thing than it had
ever been before . . . . Frontispiece

She often sat curving her small long fingers backward

They gazed as if they had known each other for ages of years

"Come and play with me"

She must go and stand at the door and press her cheek against the
wood and wait and listen

She began to mount the stairs which led to the upper floors

The ledge of the window was so low that a mere step took her
outside

"I'm going up to play with the little girl, mother . . . You
don't mind, do you?"

PART ONE

In the fierce airless heat of the small square room the child
Judith panted as she lay on her bed. Her father and mother slept
near her, drowned in the heavy slumber of workers after their
day's labour. Some people in the next flat were quarrelling,
irritated probably by the appalling heat and their miserable
helplessness against it... Continue reading book >>

Reviewer:shen fran - June 21, 2013Subject:wonderfully eerieThis is probably one of the most exquisite mystery/short stories I have ever encountered. I am just glad I was at work in the daylight when I listened to this. Great reader.